Today, truly permit me to sound like a psychologist.

In the ever-evolving journey of life, there are countless skills I’d like to learn. I’ve already learned many. Some useful (i.e. how to tell if soneone is lying) and some not so much (i.e., dydadic data analyses – don’t ask). With that said, I believe that the key to personal growth is a commitment to lifelong learning and a passion for teaching others what we’ve discovered along the way. I love mentoring. But that’s a discussion for another time. Meanwhile, amidst all the skills I yearn to acquire, there is one that has become increasingly valuable in my tumultuous world—a skill that can preserve my sanity and protect my mental health. And, probably yours as well.

A dear friend once shared with me a skill that intrigued me, a skill that she believed could serve as a lifeline for me in a sea of chaos. It’s the art of turning down the volume, metaphorically speaking, on those who seem to thrive on chaos, irrationality, and unscrupulousness. In a world filled with individuals who talk, scream, and pontificate without cause or knowledge, learning to tune out the noise they generate has become an essential survival skill.

The truth is, we live in a world where a cacophony (one of my favorite words) of voices, opinions, and narratives can overwhelm our senses. Some of these voices are unapologetically loud, while others are whispered, but they all have one thing in common: the power to affect our mental well-being. When we allow these voices to invade our consciousness, they can take a toll on our peace of mind and emotional equilibrium.

The skill I yearn to master is the ability to protect my own mental sanctuary from the intrusion of these harmful voices. It’s about learning to filter out the noise of the unscrupulous, the irrational, and the divisive. It’s about creating a space where I can think clearly, make informed decisions, and maintain my emotional balance.

This skill does not involve denial or disengagement from the world around us. Instead, it means being discerning about which voices we allow to shape our thoughts and feelings. It means understanding that not every opinion is worth our mental energy and emotional investment. It’s about preserving our mental health by focusing on what truly matters and aligning our inner world with values and principles that promote well-being.

I have found that learning to turn down the volume on the surrounding chaos is a journey, not an overnight transformation. It requires a conscious effort to recognize when a voice is not worth listening to, when an argument is baseless, or when a person is unscrupulous in their intentions. It means choosing when and where to engage in conversations that truly matter.

In the end, mastering the skill of turning down the noise of unscrupulous voices is an act of self-compassion. It’s a way to preserve my sanity, protect my sense of peace, and ensure that my mental health remains resilient in the face of chaos. As I strive to refine this skill, I hope to teach others to do the same, fostering a world where mental well-being is readily valued and protected.